Novel & Cerita 609 Bedtime Stories

“And I missed your mommy. So much that I had to come and see you all.” My youngest two squealed in delight again. Maybe I let them watch too many fairy tales. “Ok, girls.” I clapped my hands, ushering them. “Go back and play please. Bedtime in an hour.” It was that easy to dismiss my girls. Just the mention of bedtime and they disappear faster than the hummingbirds. Or the roadrunner in those old cartoons with Wile E. Coyote. Turning my attention to his companion, I extended my hand out to hers to shake it.

The cook set a plate in front of Blake. “Let me know if there is anything else I can get for you, sir.” Blake picked up a fork. “This looks great, Albert. Thank you.” “You're welcome, sir.” After dinner, Alma assisted Iris with her bath and then watched as the little girl brushed her teeth. When Iris was ready for bed, Blake came into the room to read her a bedtime story. They settled on the bed and he began to read ‘The Sleeping Beauty’. By the time he was done with the story, Iris's eyelids were drooping and her chin was resting on her chest. Blake tucked her into bed and kissed her goodnight. Moving toward the door, he stopped when she called out to him.

Then, I lay beside him once he was fully settled and comfortable. “Mommy, tell me a bedtime story,” “Now?” “Yes. It will help me sleep faster. Also, nobody has told me bedtime stories since you left…” ‘since I left to prison…’ I wanted to say it out loud but I didn’t. The tears I’d been holding accidentally fell out of my eye, and I sniffed discreetly. “Of course.” I cleared my throat and began. “Story, story, story time. There was a far, far away land, and a King ruled a nation known as Anthill, filled with so many people who called themselves Anthillians.”

00 at night, I still have an hour to read this book. “I'm sorry, madam, it's only 09.00 at night, isn't bedtime every 10.00 at night? If I still have an hour and I can't sleep well, that's why I come here to just read a book to relieve boredom. Once again I'm sorry, if I have indeed violated a rule, please don't punish me with severe punishment."